The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-02-18


Lake. at which point an English colony
have located, and on the west side of
this lake where the canal enters the
Cross Prairie, and at Southport and sew
eral other places ON the TohOpeliga, ex-
tensive areas of marsh lands were ditch
ed and being prepared for crops. Flows
were upturning the rich mould, and no.
tably at Southport, large crops of vege-
tables were in process of cultivation.
The creeks leading into the lakes, for
some distance back, were sensibly re-
duced, and their waters running with
rapid current, while the ad jacent coun-
| try. for a considerable distance, was Wis.,
IDLY affected by the drainage operations.
To the west the country is more varied
but of the same general character open
prairie intersPersed with pine islands and
small clusters of hammock growth,
| reaching off to the south and southwest,
/ until merged in the marshes of the Okee
chobee. and the great prairie lying north
of the CaloOsahatchie.
| OF this vast region it could be safely
said that far the greater portion of its
area was abundantly dry at this season
| for cultivation.
Not only was this true of the more
| elevated lands, but the rich low prairie
| living between the marshes along the
lakes and rivers, and the plain country
| back and beyond, were out of water and
| comparatively dry.
A casual observer, knowing that an
effort was being made to lower the wa
| tiers of this region by system of canals,
might naturally be impressed that
great change had been wrought through
| their agency.
| From the statements of cattle men,
| farmers and old residents familiar with
| this whole country, and other intelligent
| persons cognizant of the facts, a. well as
/ from their own observations, the COM
mittee are assured, however, and do not
| hesitate to- report, that the condition OF
| the adj accent country ut this time, except
around East Lake and the TOhOpekaliga,
was attributable to natural causes, and
| was but AN average one for the season of
| the year at which they visited it, and
! that the canals and other work of the
/ drainage company had exercised but
little, If any, influence in bringing this
state of things about; =
The second section of the act makes it
/ the duty of the committee to report the
number of acres reclaimed by the COM
pany. After mature and careful deliber-
| alton the committee find, and so report,
| that the only lands that can be considered
| reclaimed are those lying on and ad ia
| cent to East Lake am. the TohOpekaliga,
| and these lands cannot be treated as per-
man, ntly drained until relief is given to
| the rivers and lakes below.
| The number of acres so reclaimed,
they estimate at about eighty thousand.
The reclaimed lands around East Lake,
with proper subsidiary drainage, may be
| considered IA fit for cultivation in any
| ordinary season, provided the canal IL
freed and kept free from bars and OBJ
| str uctions.
| Around the Tohopekaliga occasional
oveItlows will occur until sufficient vent
is given to the engorged waters below.
To permanently assure the lowering this
lake, however. the canal To Lake Cypress
should be dredged to a uniform depth,
and all bars and distractions removed.
| Their responsibilities under the con-
| tract with the trustees are great and
they should not hesitate frankly to con-
cede and faithfully To discharge them.
| They SHOULD employ a much larger
| force than they have yet had engaged
in the work. The effort must be proper
tiOnate to the ends to be accomplished.
| No limit of time is fixed by the con-
| tract for its completion, but the work
| should not be unnecessarily delayed.
| The work accomplished should encourage
them to renewed effort. They have, in
our opinion. done enough to show the
| entire practicability of the drainage
scheme which they have undertaken. as
well AS the admirable results tn be ST.
cured by its accomplishment. lt is only
| necessary for them now to Use the ex-
| perience which they have obtained, and,
encouraged by the large pecuniary re-
| suits which they have reason To- antici-
pate, throw themselves with renewed
| energy and increased power into the
| work which ia before them.
| This increased effort is particularly due
| from the drainage company. because of
the large body of land which has been
conveyed to- them by the trustees, under
| misrepresentation as to the results of
| the work they have already done. We
doubt not that the gentlemen who COM
| pose the drainage company desire to
| carry out their contract in good faith,
and that in applying for and accepting
| conveyances from the trustees Of land
| which they had not earned, they have
| been guided by no intention or desire to
wrong the State or its trust fund in any
way. They should be willing to give
the best assurance possible, however, of
tber good faith by proceeding with an
earnest purpose to do the work fully and
| completely which they have contracted
with the trustees to do.
| we respectfully suggest tnat some ar
| rangement be made 10y which the drain
| age company will secure to the board
the faithful application of all moneys
| arising from the sale of lands which
have been conveyed by the trustees un-
der the impression that they had been
| reclaimed. to the further work required
| for permanent reclamation. Such an
agreement, il properly secured, will
| avoid the necessity for resort to the
courts, the rights of the trustees will be
protected, harmonious relations with the
company will be preserved, and tine IN
terests of the State promoted, by avoid
| ing possible interruption and delay in
the prosecution of the work.
We suggest also that the trustees en-
ploy thoroughly competent. reliable
| and skilled engineer, whose duty 10 shall